The following contribution is from another author.
Many office-bound workers fantasize about working from home while stuck on their corporate desks. A lot of coffee, snacks, a pleasant stroll, no irritating workmate on sight are among the fantasies that make working from home look so fancy. But for those who try switching to work from home realise it is not all they thought.
Even though you are far from the moody colleague, getting the motivation to be productive at home is quite a task. From cute pets that initiate a play, crying babies, loud music from the neighbours, it is very easy for your productivity to drop. However, this does not mean it is impossible to maintain a productive home-working environment.
By finding a structure and a balance, you may find you are more productive at home compared to your workplace (especially now that every company should be using cloud computing). Structuring how you work and setting boundaries is an essential aspect of productivity at home. Even more, creating a home workplace that allows you to focus will inspire your productivity and enhance creativity. Here are 5 ways to set up a productive home workplace. Even as you plan all these, ensure you get a removal van to help you move your stuff.
Maintain a constant workspace
It’s one thing to have a home workspace and another thing to actually use it. The temptation of checking and replying to your mails from your bed may form a very bad habit. Just like waking up to go to a workplace, maintain the discipline and keep a constant workspace.
Your home workspace as your office which means no less productivity. Set up a comfortable workspace and stick to it such that you feel at home when you are away from your workstation. This will improve your productivity and help you focus.
Have a work schedule and stick to it
With all the comfort of your house, you may waste a lot of time catching up on your favourite program while taking lunch. Having a work schedule will guide you on what you have to do next and by what time you should be done.
You will avoid working late at night because you spend extra hours taking lunch. The same way, don’t overwork because you want to cover more. Form a habit of shutting down your computer at exactly the time your schedule says and stick to that schedule. This ensures you have enough time to rest so you are productive the next day.
Do some exercise
As you take care of your emotional and mental health, don’t ignore your physical health. With less walking to get lunch and commuting to work, it’s quite easy to become inactive. This is not just bad for your physical health but can also affect your productivity and performance.
Therefore, it is wise to set a minimum of one hour each day and do some workouts even if it’s just jogging around the neighborhood. Alternatively, get a home workout routine that suits you. This will help refresh your mind and keep you healthy at the same time.
Connect to the world
Working from home means there is no office drama to get your mind off the stressful workload. You will definitely miss your friends and the interpersonal dynamics when you are all alone in the house. Pick your phone and have some human connection with friends. However, don’t overdo it since it may take much of your time if you are not careful. An interaction with others once in a while will keep you sane thus more productivity in the end.
Surround yourself with creativity
The good thing about working from home is that you are in charge of your working space and nobody is there to analyze how it looks. If you like artwork, surround your workspace with your favourite art. It’s more than just the right computer and choosing monitors… feel free to add anything that fosters your creativity be it family photos or creative colors. Plants are also a great way to add life and enhance creativity in your space. Add enough to lighten up your mood.
Final word
Working from home may be more productive than your workplace depending on how you go about it. However, it may also be futile if you are not careful. Nobody is watching you which means you have all the time to watch tv or do some extra work. Employ the right tactics and improve productivity as you work from home.
